Portable carrier with rapid-access feature

ABSTRACT

A portable carrier adapted for releasable connection to the human body and adapted to carry an auxiliary item such as keys, Mace™, pepper spray, or the like, includes a base strap having first and second parts of a hook and loop type fastener secured thereto. The strap is adapted to be wrapped around a part of the human body and secured to itself to releasably secure the strap to the human body at a desired location. The strap includes means in the form of an attachment loop, a cylindrical pocket, or a pouch adapted to releasably retain the auxiliary item in a manner for rapid-access by the user of the carrier. Alternatively, the auxiliary item may be adapted to directly attach to the base strap itself.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The instant invention is directed toward a portable carrier that permits rapid access to a carried item (e.g., keys, Mace™, pepper spray, a light, tools, a knife, whistles, electronic devices, alarms, and door openers). More specifically, it relates to a carrier that attaches to a user or something being worn by a user and permits that person to easily and rapidly access a desired item for convenience or safety reasons.

[0003] 2. Background Art

[0004] Having rapid and easy access to a selected item has been a problem in the past. For example, for safety reasons it may be desirable to have rapid and easy access to a self-defense product like Mace™ or pepper spray. Such access would allow a person to be able to have the defensive spray in hand to use immediately when needed to deter an attacker while being carried in such a manner as not to interfere with other activities, such as jogging or walking. In the past, consumers have tried to solve the problem of ready availability by attaching such personal defense spray canisters to key chains or carrying the canisters in purses, in hand, in pockets, and in fanny packs. The disadvantages of these prior methods is that the canister is not quickly accessible when needed or the hands are not free to carry other objects.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A flexible strap of either elastic or non-elastic material is adapted to be formed into a closed loop and passed around a human body part for securing an auxiliary item thereto. The auxiliary item might be keys, pepper spray, a light, tools, a knife, whistles or the like. The strap, in the preferred embodiments, includes releasable fasteners so that it can be independently formed into a loop of a desired size for the body part on which it is to be mounted, with those releasable fasteners possibly being in the form of hook and loop type fasteners.

[0006] The means for attaching auxiliary items to the strap are disclosed in several embodiments including a closed loop cord, a hook or loop type fastener material for securement to the complimentary hook or loop type material on the strap, a pocket formed on the strap with a separate strip of material that is secured to the base strap so as to define an open space between the strip and base strap, or a cylindrical sleeve in which an auxiliary item can be releasably retained.

[0007] Other aspects, features and details of the present invention can be more completely understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the drawings and from the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of a carrier according to the present invention;

[0009]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an item to be carried on the carrier depicted, for example, in FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention similar to that depicted in FIG. 1;

[0011]FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a second alternative embodiment of a portable carrier according to the instant invention;

[0012]FIG. 5 is an isometric view of an optional pouch strip for use in combination with the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4;

[0013]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a third alternative embodiment of a carrier according to the instant invention;

[0014]FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a fourth alternative embodiment of a carrier according to the present invention depicting an optional means for attaching the carrier, and

[0015]FIG. 8 is an isometric view of an optional pouch strip for use in combination with the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Referring first to FIG. 1, a first preferred embodiment 10 of the portable carrier of the present invention is described. The first embodiment comprises a strap 12 of flexible, elastic or non-elastic material having a longitudinal dimension L₁ and a lateral dimension W₁. The strap also includes a first end 14 and a second end 16. A first part of a fastening system such as a hook and loop material 18 (e.g., Velcro™) having a longitudinal dimension L₂ and a lateral dimension W₂ is attached to the strap of material 12, as shown in FIG. 1. The first part of the hook and loop material 18 may be attached to the strap 12 with glue, stitching, or any other means. In this first preferred embodiment the longitudinal dimension L₂ of the first part of the hook and loop material 18 is less than the longitudinal dimension L₁ of the strap 12. Further, the lateral dimension W₂ of the first part of the hook and loop material 18 is less than the lateral dimension W₁ of the strap 12. Adjacent the second end 16 of the strap 12 is a margin 20. A second part of the hook and loop material 22 is attached to the strap 12 in this margin 20 on the opposite side of the strap 12 from the side on which the first part of the hook and loop material 18 is attached. In this manner, when the first end 14 of the strap is placed in overlapping configuration with the second end 16 of the strap so as to form the strap into a ring or loop (not shown), the second part of the hook and loop material 22 may be mated to the first part of the hook and loop material 18 at a position which holds the carrier as desired. This first preferred embodiment 10 also includes an attachment loop 24 of a cord or the like. The attachment loop 24 is a cord of material that is stitched adjacent one end of the first part of the hook and loop material 18. An item to be carried (e.g., a key, whistle, electronic device, alarm, door opener, or personal defense spray) maybe attached to this attachment loop 24. Although this attachment loop 24 is not depicted in the remaining figures, it could be used in conjunction with any of the embodiments of the invention described herein. The longitudinal dimension L₁ of the strap 12 is defined by the intended use of the portable carrier. For example, the portable carrier could be designed to be worn around a person's waist, arm, leg, or finger. Alternatively, the personal carrier could form the belt of a “fanny pack.” If, for example, the user desires to wear the portable carrier around his or her waist, the resulting longitudinal dimension L₁ of the strap will be greater than if the user desires to wear the portable carrier around his or her arm.

[0017] Referring next to FIG. 2, an example of how an item to be carried could be attached to the carrier shown in FIG. 1. Shown in FIG. 2 is a container 26 of defense spray, in this case pepper spray. A piece 28 of the second part of the hook and loop material is associated with the pepper spray. As depicted in FIG. 2, this piece 28 of the second part of the hook and loop material is actually attached to a band of elastic 30, which is then slid over the pepper spray canister. Alternatively, the piece 28 of the second part of the hook and loop material could be affixed directly to the side of the pepper spray canister 26. Subsequently, since the piece 28 of the second part of the hook and loop material is now combined with the pepper spray canister 26, that canister 26 may be subsequently mated to the first part of the hook and loop material 18 attached to the strap 12 at any desired location along the longitudinal dimension L₂ of the first part of the hook and loop material 18.

[0018] Referring now to FIG. 3, a first alternative embodiment 32 of the portable carrier is shown. In this embodiment, a flexible, elastic or non-elastic strap 34 has a longitudinal dimension L₃ and a width dimension W₃. Similar to what is shown and described with reference to FIG. 1, in FIG. 3 the strap 34 has a second end 36 with a margin 38 adjacent thereto. A piece of a second part of hook and loop material 40 of approximately the same width W3 is attached in the margin 38 adjacent the second end 36 of the strap 34. On the opposite face of the strap 34 is a piece of the first part of hook and loop material 42 which also has a width W₃ and a length L₄ that is preferably slightly greater than one half of L₃. The embodiment 32 provides a more secure means for attaching the portable carrier to a user since the amount of hook and loop material being mated is correspondingly larger.

[0019] Referring now to FIG. 4, a second alternative embodiment 44 of the portable carrier of the present invention is described. This embodiment is most similar to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3 with a piece of the first part of the hook and loop material 46 secured on a first face to the strap 48. In this case, however, the strap 48 is attached to the user in a slightly different manner. In particular, a draw loop 50 is attached to the strap adjacent a first end 52 of the strap 48. This draw loop 50 may be attached, for example, by sewing or hemming a portion of the strap 48 over a portion of the draw loop 50. As was the case with the previous embodiments, a margin 53 is located adjacent to a second end 54 of the strap 48. In this second alternative embodiment, however, a piece of the second part of the hook and loop material 56 is attached to each side of the strap material in the margin 53. In this manner, the strap 48 maybe removably attached to the user in at least two different ways. First, the second end 54 of the strap 48 may be inserted through the draw loop 50 and doubled back onto itself entrapping a portion of the draw loop 50 before the second part of the hook and loop material 56 is mated with the first part of the hook and loop material 46. Second, using the portion of the second part of the hook and loop material 56 on the opposite side of the strap, the second end 54 of the strap may be inserted through the draw loop and mated to the first part of the hook and loop material 46 without doubling back the second end of the strap material onto itself to entrap a portion of the draw loop 50.

[0020] Referring now to FIG. 5, an optional pouch 58 is illustrated that may be combined with the previously described portable carriers of FIGS. 1, 3, and 4. For illustrative purposes only, the pouch 58 will be described in connection with the second alternative embodiment 44 shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is the back side of the portable carrier shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 5, a small strip 60 of material may be attached to the strap 48 (FIG. 4), on the opposite side of the strap 48 from the side having the first part of the hook and loop material 46 attached to it, in a manner to create an open space between this small strip of material 60 and the strap 48. The pouch 58 is created by affixing the small strip of material 60 to the strap 48 at locations along opposite sides 59 and 59 a of the strip 60 thereby creating an open space between the strip 60 and the strap 48. A third side 62 of the strip 60 can also be secured to the strap 48 thereby creating a pocket with the fourth side 64 of the pouch 58 being unsecured to the strap 48. This fourth side 64 may then be removably attached to the strap using Velcro™, snaps, zippers, or any other closures (e.g., those used in purses). The sides 59, 59 a, 62 of the strip 60 may be affixed to the strap 48 by, for example, stitching.

[0021] Referring next to FIG. 6, a third embodiment 66 of a portable carrier according to the present invention is described. This embodiment is most similar to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3 with like parts having the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, however, a cylindrical pocket or sleeve 68 has been attached to the strap 34. There are at least two possible methods for creating the cylindrical pocket 68. First, a separate strip of material may be formed into a cylindrical shape and then attached to the strap 34 in any secure manner. Second, a portion of the strap material may itself be gathered into a loop and then stitched or glued to itself so that the cylindrical pocket 68 takes shape. The cylindrical pocket 68 is preferably formed from an elastic-type material so that it grips and holds an item placed therein. For example, if the cylindrical pocket 68 depicted in FIG. 6 were used in combination with the pepper spray canister 26 shown in FIG. 2, the cylindrical pocket would be dimensioned such that it would be slightly smaller in cross-sectional diameter than the cross-sectional diameter of the pepper spray canister 26. Thus, the pepper spray canister 26 would be snugly held within the cylindrical pocket 68, but a user could quickly draw the pepper spray canister 26 from the cylindrical pocket 68 in case of an emergency.

[0022]FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment 69 similar to the second alternative embodiment 44 with like parts having been given like reference numerals. In FIG. 7, however, a cylindrical pocket 70 such as the pocket 68 described with reference to FIG. 6 is secured to or formed on the strap 48.

[0023]FIG. 8 illustrates a strap similar to FIG. 5 with like parts having been given like reference numerals and wherein a cylindrical pocket 72 has been secured to or formed thereon as described in connection with FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0024] Although several embodiments of this invention have been described above, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. For example, the preferred materials for the strap is either nylon or elastic. One could, however, make the strap from cloth, plastic, rubber, or any other flexible material that may be shaped or formed to encircle the wrist, arm, leg, finger, or waist, for example, of the user. Similarly, a single pouch is depicted in each of FIGS. 5 and 8 even though multiple pouches could be used, and these pouches could be located on either side or both sides of the strap. Also, additional attachment loops (see FIG. 1) may be used to suit the desires of various users. It may also be desirable to use alternative means of attaching items to the carrier. For example, one half of a snap could be attached to the strap and the mating opposite half of the snap could be affixed to the item to be carried. The item could then be “snapped” to the strap, providing hands-free carrying of the item in combination with ready and convenient accessibility. An important feature of the instant invention is the ability to have an item readily accessible without having to hold the item in one's hand. A benefit of wearing the portable carrier of the present invention includes a deterrent effect. More particularly, if a stalker or potential attacker is watching someone, that stalker or potential attacker is less likely to select for a victim someone who clearly has defensive means (e.g., pepper spray or Mace™) readily available to them. It is, therefore, intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. 

1. A portable carrier for releasable attachment to the human body, includes an elongated strap having releasable fasteners thereon for securing the strap to itself so as to form a closed loop, and connector means on the strap for securing auxiliary items to the strap.
 2. The carrier of claim 1 wherein said connector means is an attachment loop secured to said strap.
 3. The carrier of claim 2 wherein said attachment loop is made of cord.
 4. The carrier of claim 1 wherein said releasable fasteners are of the hook and loop material type.
 5. The carrier of claim 4 further including an auxiliary item having a hook or loop type fastener material thereon and adapted to be secured to the complementing hook or loop material on said strap.
 6. The carrier of claim 4 wherein said strap has opposite faces and said hook material is secured to one face of said strap and said loop material is secured to the other of said faces.
 7. The carrier of claim 6 wherein one of said hook material and loop material is secured to both faces of said strap and further including a draw loop secured to said strap and through which said strap can be passed before being looped back upon itself.
 8. The carrier of claim 1 wherein said connector means is a pocket formed on said strap.
 9. The carrier of claim 8 wherein said pocket is formed by overlying a strip of material on said strap and securing the strip to the strap to define an open space therebetween.
 10. The carrier of claim 1 wherein said connector means is a generally cylindrical sleeve.
 11. The carrier of claim 10 wherein said cylindrical sleeve is formed from an independent strip of material and secured to said strap.
 12. The carrier of claim 10 wherein said cylindrical sleeve is formed from said strap by gathering a loop of material in said strap.
 13. A portable carrier for releasable attachment to the human body includes an elongated strap formed into a closed loop adapted to be positioned around a human body part and connector means on the strap for securing auxiliary items to the strap. 